Brandon Dooley was a first-team All-State selection in football, wrestling and baseball in 2014-15, but the William Penn senior won’t get a chance to repeat all three accomplishments in this school year.
Dooley did manage to repeat as a first-team All-State center in the fall, despite playing in pain all season. He was off to a 6-0 start in the new wrestling season before undergoing surgery on Jan. 22 to repair a torn meniscus and cartilage in his knee.
“I played through it all football season, and they just said eventually it tore,” Dooley said. “There were a lot of days when I had to miss practice and miss time to run, just because I was in so much pain.”
Dooley won’t be able to return in time to defend his 285-pound title at the DIAA Individual Wrestling Championships, but he still has plans for a big finish to his high school athletic career.
“I’m going to definitely get back for baseball, and get back for the Blue-Gold [football] game,” he said.
The first baseman is coached by his father, Marvin, in all three sports at William Penn. Marvin Dooley will also serve as head coach of the Blue team in the annual Blue-Gold football game, to be played June 18 at Delaware Stadium.
Brandon Dooley said he plans to play football in college, and has received recruiting interest from multiple schools in the region. He plans to announce his destination next month.
Henlopen track titles
Smyrna breezed to the girls team crown, and Dover won a closer battle for the boys title at the Henlopen Conference Indoor Track Championships last week at the Worcester County Parks and Recreation Center in Snow Hill, Md.
The Eagles piled up 233½ points to easily outdistance Caesar Rodney (92) in the girls race. Smyrna got victories from Jameela Buchanan in the 200 and 400, Naomi Bowser in the 800, Taimira Ramseur in the 55-meter hurdles, Shantell Kargbeh in the pole vault and triple jump, Brittany Smith in the high jump, Arianna Vass in the long jump and Myrissa McFolling-Young in the shot put.
The Eagles also swept the 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 relays. Other girls individual winners were Sussex Tech’s Roxanne Ramirez in the 1,600 and 3,200 and CR’s Cailyn Carter in the 55-meter dash.
The Dover boys finished with 162 points to get past Smyrna (153½) and CR (119). The Senators got wins from Ronald Jones in the 800 and Tayshaun Chisolm in the 55-meter hurdles and also took the 4×400 and 4×800 relays.
Smyrna had two double winners in Tosin Ibironke (1,600 and 3,200) and Moses Carter (400 and triple jump). Cape Henlopen’s Wardell Allen swept the 200 and long jump.
Other boys winners included Cape’s Deandre Sheppard (high jump), CR’s Dayvhantae McDonald (55-meter dash) and Donnie Lindsay (pole vault) and Lake Forest’s Traequan Hardy (shot put). CR also won the 4×200 relay.
Rounding it up
— Smyrna’s alumni wrestling night has been rescheduled for Feb. 12 before the Eagles’ home match against Cape Henlopen at 6 p.m. The Eagles will recognize their 1996 Division II dual-meet championship team and commemorate the program’s 600th dual-meet victory, which was reached Jan. 13 against Sussex Tech. The Eagles invite all former wrestlers and coaches to participate.
— Howard will honor its 1996 state championship basketball team during the Wildcats’ Feb. 12 home game against Dickinson at 5:30 p.m. The school will also honor former Howard track and field coach Bob King, who recently was announced as a Herm Reitzes Award winner for sports-related community service by the Delaware Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association.
— Senior Josh Pincus celebrated his 18th birthday with a pin at 152 pounds in Wilmington Friends’ 42-26 wrestling victory over Tower Hill on Thursday.
— Mount Pleasant is seeking an assistant coach for boys lacrosse. Email athletic director Keith Neff at keith.neff@bsd.k12.de.us for more information.
— Brandywine is seeking a head coach for girls lacrosse. Email athletic director Rick Shea at rick.shea@bsd.k12.de.us.
Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ
Brandon Dooley (right) wrestles Dover’s Isaiah Abrams last year.